apes module 58 - risk analysis

• perception of risk does not equal the reality of risk
• risk analysis seeks to minimize environmental risks from environmental hazards
• what are the three steps of risk analysis?

  risk assessment, risk acceptance, and risk management
• describe risk assessment

  identifying the hazard, characterizing toxicity (dose response), and determining the extent of exposure
• risk assessment can be quantitative or qualitative
• describe risk acceptance

  determining the acceptable level of risk
• describe risk management

  determining an appropriate policy via public and private input
• RISK = probability of hazard exposure * probability of harm from exposure
• risk acceptance can be tricky because different individuals are willing to tolerate different amounts of risk, think mask mandate
• two risk philosophies are innocent until proven guilty and precautionary principle
• innocent until proven guilty claims that a potential hazard is not a hazard unless scientifically proven otherwise
• the precautionary principle states that action should be taken against potential environmental hazards
• cons of innocent until proven guilty

  exposes market to potentially dangerous chemicals

  hazards may cause harm before scientifically proven to be harmful
• pros of innocent until proven guilty

  speeds up getting products to markets

  provides financial incentives to producers

  better quality products for consumers
• pros of precautionary principle

  ensures safety of products for the public

  minimizes risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals
• cons of precautionary principle

  enhanced regulations = slower delivery

  limited financial incentives = slow development of products
• the stockholm convention focuses on persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
• the stockholm convention targets POPs because of their tendency to bioaccumulate and biomagnify
• POPs are resistant to environmental degradation
• REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and restriction of Chemicals